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Bowling Ball Rocket

Perseverance pays off.  After 8 official build sessions and a lot of unofficial construction time, it all came together Sunday June 10, 2007.  The bowling ball flew at RocStock !  For those who don't know, the TRG members decided to build an entry for the H-Lite-Duration, Bowling Ball Loft contest held annually at the LDRS launch.  Several of the TRG members and advisors have completed that entry and completed a demonstration launch at ROCStock to test out the system and tune the flight plan in preparation for the July 13 contest flight.    The rocket was designed and constructed by the members.  The "Ball" flew from a custom-build tube launcher, purpose built specifically for this project.  Check out the photos below.  

Excellent job.  Thanks to everyone on the build team (Bryan, Nathan, Patrick, Johnathan, and Kevin).  And thanks to Richard for putting together the incredible NASA- class launcher!

(Click on the thumbnails to see a larger version)

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DSC01743.JPG (841225 bytes) Patrick and Bryan pose with an early mockup of the booster for the bowling ball rocket in early May, while Richard works on the tube launcher in the background.  
DSC01766.JPG (741380 bytes) Bowling Ball Rocket build team, June 2, 2007.  Left to right, Kevin, Patrick, Bryan, Nathan.
DSC01763.JPG (706228 bytes) Kevin King puts a final sanding on the Rocket Shroud
An artist at work. DSC01769.JPG (750875 bytes)DSC01773.JPG (793698 bytes) DSC01772.JPG (760210 bytes)

 

DSC01782.JPG (802948 bytes) Bryan and Patrick with the finished rocket body.  Rumor has it that Bryan put over 20 different colors of spray paint to get the cool color effects.  I'm guessing it's no exaggeration.  Great Job, Bryan.
Kevin and Patrick lay out the stenciling for the Tube Launcher. DSC01777.JPG (785409 bytes)DSC01778.JPG (871779 bytes) 

 

DSC01787.JPG (897144 bytes)DSC01789.JPG (866685 bytes)  DSC01788.JPG (719636 bytes)  DSC01793.JPG (904540 bytes)
DSC01829.JPG (799639 bytes) The TRG Build Team preparing to setup the launcher June 10, 2007.
DSCF0564.JPG (1346442 bytes) We marched the tube launcher out to the away cells for setup.
DSCF0568.JPG (1306262 bytes) The dry lake at Iwo Jima!

Tube Launcher Setup

      

 

 

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Parachute Packing.  Two 'chutes were packed:  50" orange for the rocket body and a 96" green for the ball. DSCF0589.JPG (1357843 bytes)DSCF0590.JPG (1351902 bytes)DSCF0594.JPG (1359581 bytes)DSCF0596.JPG (1374634 bytes)DSCF0596.JPG (1374634 bytes)DSCF0597.JPG (1366438 bytes)
Approval and advice from the Range Safety Officer.  He's John Van Norman of Myth Busters fame. DSCF0599.JPG (1118477 bytes)DSCF0600.JPG (1372595 bytes)DSCF0601.JPG (1137773 bytes)
Motor Preparation.  For you rocket folks, Bryan is preparing an Aerotech H999 Warp-9 reloadable motor, with an Aerotech Electronic Forward Closure.  Say that 3 times fast! DSCF0592.JPG (1350935 bytes)DSCF0603.JPG (1366241 bytes)DSCF0593.JPG (1356897 bytes)
We did a little modification at the pad. DSCF0604.JPG (1312254 bytes)
All the hard work came together at about 11:30am on June 10,2007.  

Note:  These photos were purchased from Rockets Magazine.  Thanks.  Please check out many other photos of ROCStock on their website.

  ROCStock25-022476.jpg (7043681 bytes)ROCStock25-022480.jpg (5189594 bytes)

BowlingBall at Apogee.jpg (76680 bytes)BowlingBall Parachutes.jpg (1712892 bytes)

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